Information Program Within Public Shelters (1963)

[Music] these people are in a public shelter an enemy attack has just occurred the first hours of shelter occupation are characterized by confusion rumors noise small groups gather they discuss their situation their new and strange location this however is not the case with all shelter occupants some withdraw freeze become a member of no group but there is one common value one pervading thought self-preservation self- protection self social values must return before individuals will function as a group luckily the needs to achieve this are few organization leadership Recreation training empathy with fellow shelter occupants but these needs are led by the need for information the quality of the shelter's information program will have a great effect on the success of the survival effort your attention please your attention please all right quiet now please come on hold it down let's listen to this this is Governor Haynes this is an official announcement the nation has sustained a nuclear attack luckily only a few of our cities have been hit and our citizens are now entering into shelters if we stay in our shelters we will survive your local authorities will give you reports as they are received in the meantime remember stay in your shelter positive information is reassuring to get it a radio is desirable providing shelters with radios is the responsibility of the community but although it gives the big picture the radio is an impersonal thing what about our town our neighborhood our home may I have your ladies and gentlemen may have your attention for just a moment uh you've heard our governor we have other information that there's been no heavy damage in our area so if some of your family is not in this shelter be reassured fill out these registration forms it'll help us to locate your families that's all evidence of informed leadership helps to establish control of the shelter quickly and to hold it a major source of information for management is the control center the control center provides the manager with operations information not given over the radio some of this operations information may also be used as general information to further inform the shelter occupants at the discretion of the manager because information is so important the shelter's procedure for handling it should be organized in an information program and made a part of the shelter operations plan it should contain instructions to help others conduct the information program even if the manager and his staff don't make it to their shelter the information program requires capable Personnel to form an information team its leader could be a newsman or public relations expert an educator or the like the number and qualifications of his assistants will vary with the size and layout of the shelter all should be chosen for their understanding of people once he feels safe in a well-managed shelter a shelter occupant's concern for self quickly gives way to concern about his immediate family the information team should be prepared to cope with this demanding need your attention please we're in contact with Control Center downtown they report that all shelters in Fair View have been occupied according to plan all children have gone safely into their school shelter they urge that we stay in our shelter reassuring news about family can help draw distraught individuals out of themselves supplying information information helps them start back to a normal condition of social awareness and responsibility they will form spontaneous groups to talk out the situation relieving pressure but these groups lack purpose and organization they must be given more information to help management build a close-knit shelter Society for survival as soon as possible post a public announcement schedule list the times that you intend to announce news from both outside and inside the shelter this is similar to regular newscast it will give shelter occupants regular high points to look forward to Urgent announcements of course should be made immediately just as in normal times issuing the news is a critical responsibility of trust the timely release of news and the preparation of the occupants to accept bad news when necessary are the responsibility of the shelter manager and his staff your attention please your your attention please as we expected Fallout is moving over the city radiation levels have not been determined as yet another information problem concerns the issuance of bad news the public has as much right to know the unpleasant as the cheerful knowing just how to deliver it and how to cope with possible reaction is the essence of a good Information Program if the manager believes that the effect on morale is serious he must be prepared to offset this with positive instructions and information the manner in which information is given is extremely important calmly rather than excitedly authoritative rather than confused giving both good news and bad keeping shelter occupants informed of outside events asking for ideas confiding serious problems will gradually draw individuals into a group with a growing morale and a willingness to cooperate but as the group Spirit develops there will be everpresent forces that tend to divide it again one of these is a familiar information problem false rumors the rumor going around some of them want to sleep in the other half of the room tonight because they say there's less radiation over there well that figures all of them tried to sleep over here last night the rumor then was that only this end of the shelter was safe but rumors are canceling each other out all right let's have Charlie set up a demonstration to prove that both rumors are just Scuttle but when they have the correct information we won't have a problem after some time there will be opportunities to use the program and Communications facilities to help improve morale there may be time to transmit information that will have a personal meaning to shelter occupants perhaps to to confirm the good health of family members who are in other shelters important morale boosting information of this sort should be compiled and transmitted during the slack hours to avoid confusing or delaying important official operations and general messages another information technique that helps increase the group Spirit is to share personal news with the whole shelter there will be many opportunities well that about wraps it up for now if there's anyone who has anything that he' like well looks like we do have another bit of news the weers have an anniversary today their 30th conratulations when the routine of existence distance has at last been established in the shelter and news becomes repetitious life may become boring shelter occupants will ask what do we do now the information program should include ways to help solve the problem it's comparatively easy to handle an individuals give them responsibilities but for the group as a whole the answer is organized instruction to further inform and Orient the shelter occupants the program should include talks on reserving heal discussion periods safety instruction special activities for adults and children and other activities that underscore the need for tolerance cooperation and submergence of personal interest for the good of the group if possible Personnel needed to direct these activities should be designated pre-attack from the community ranks of trained Specialists if more are required they can be selected with the help of the registration forms from among the shelter occupants School teachers Recreation and athletic directors professional people and church leaders the total effect of their instruction should be to improve shelter life and to prepare survivors for the Post shelter world this indeed will be an important part of the information program preparing for the Post shelter World on those who survive will fall great responsibility reestablishing a normal way of life how well that is achieved will be influenced by the quality of instruction provided in public shelters so in brief the shelter Information Program informs diverts and orients shelter occupants during the long days of confinement it produces what is vital to shelter functioning and management an informed population and it does something more thank you doctor and now finally to the matter that we've all been thinking about just when can we all leave the shelter it has been several days radiation Fallout has decayed but the still is some radiation present so as you know the staff does not believe that anyone should go out but some of you do now again you realize that we don't want to hold anyone in the shelter against his will so before you make your final decision it might be wise to hear how some of the others feel can I say something well yes of course Mr bills go ahead well I only got on the information team pretty recently to be honest with all of you maybe I just got on any team pretty recently what I mean is when I got here right after I was kind of shook I guess we all were I didn't know what was happening I felt closed in I know none of us did at first but a really got to me sure helped finding out about the kids though I got a couple myself and that things were being taken care of look what I really want to say is I want to go along with whatever these people the manager and the staff say we can make a big mistake by going out here is the something extra that a good Information Program gives it helps replace self-concern and disorientation with concern for others interest in the group responsibility more than individuals will survive in The Fallout Shelter with a good program Society Will Survive too